Please circulate this to anyone you think might be interested
(non-SCBWI members are very welcome to attend our events)
See news relating to Children's Books at:
www.scbwi-za-news.blogspot.com/
NOTE: NEW!!! >> Our chapter is launching a new SCBWI (SA) Showcase on the Internet. Through this electronic Showcase we aim to promote South African children’s book writers, illustrators, editors and publishers locally and internationally. If you want to find out more about the Showcase and how to secure your own presence on it, go to our website at www.scbwi.za.org.
Upcoming SCBWI (SA) events for
Contents:
- January 28: What’s Happening in the SA Educational Book World?
- March 11: SCBWI (SA) 2009 Publisher's Show-and-Tell Day
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December 2008 (
We will end 2008 in a high note with our annual... SCBWI (SA) End-of-Year Season's Greetings Book Party
- Date: Tuesday - 9 December 2008
- Time: 11h30 – 15h00
- Venue:
- Cost: Free & gratis (SCBWI will pay for the coffee and tea!)
- RSVP: Please e-mail Marjorie at marjorie@grafikon.co.za before 30 November and put SCBWI SA Party in subject line.
Description: Writers, illustrators, or anyone interested in children's books are invited. Come dressed as your favourite children’s book character. Make and bring a fantasy Christmas hat for your character to wear. There will be prizes for best hat and best book character! (As in previous years, after the party the hats will go to the
Also, bring along a small inexpensive wrapped gift, AND a plate of decadent stuff to eat. We will exchange gifts, talk Children's Books, eat, drink coffee and tea and be merry.
A space will be available where you can display recently published books or work in progress. (Publishers are also welcome to come and show us their latest books!)
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January 2009 (
What's Happining in the SA Educational Book World?
- Region:
- Date: 28 January 2009
- Time: 10h00 – 15h00
- Venue: Bellville Public Library, Bellville, Cape Town (Tel: +27 21 918-2300)
- Cost: SCBWI members R50 and non-SCBWI members R80 (includes tea/coffee & lunch)
- RSVP: To reserve a place, please e-mail SCBWI.ZA@gmail.com before 15 January 2009 and (NB!) please put Educational Books Event in the subject line.
- Enquiries: By e-mail to SCBWI.ZA@gmail.com and (NB!) in the subject line put
Enquiries-Educational Books Event.
- Specific requirements: Please specify if you prefer a vegetarian lunch.
Note: More information and the CV’s of the presenters will be circulated and also posted on www.scbwi-za-capetown.blogspot.com/ early in January 2009.
Description of Event: Dr
What is happening in the educational book world?
What are the selection criteria?
Is there a typical (annual?) cycle for the various steps in publishing and distributing educational books?
What types of books are being looked at and what are the numbers?
Who are the target readers/consumers and are their clear groups, possibly along cultural lines?
How does the budget for educational books work?
Who are the main players (and decision makers) in the chain of creation, development, production, selection and distribution of educational (school-) books?
Who is responsible for getting the books to the selectors and can writers and illustrators play a role here?
What kind of books have been selected in the past and what books will be needed in the future?
What can writers and illustrators do to ensure they are producing materials that have a better chance of being considered for selection?
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March 2009 (Cape Town)
Annual SCBWI (SA) Publishers Show & Tell Day
- Region: Cape Town, South Africa
- Date: 11 March 2009
- Time: 09h00 - 17h30
- Venue: Bellville Public Library, Bellville, Cape Town (Tel: +27 21 918-2300)
- Cost: SCBWI members R70 and non-SCBWI members R100 (this includes tea/coffee & lunch).
- RSVP: Since we have a limited number of slots available, kindly RSVP as soon as possible by e-mail to scbwi.za@gmail.com and (NB!) put Publishers Day 2009 in your e-mail’s subject line. Your e-mail must reach us by no later than 15 February 2009. We repeat, slots are limited and they will be allocated on a strict first-come-first-served basis.
- Enquiries: By e-mail to scbwi.za@gmail.com and (NB!) please put Enquiries - Publishers Day 2009 in your e-mail’s subject line.
- Specific requirements: Please specify if you prefer a vegetarian lunch.
Note: More information will be circulated and also posted on www.scbwi-za-capetown.blogspot.com/ early in February 2009.
Description of Event: This will be a day for writers and illustrators to pitch their work to the publishers. It provides an opportunity for publishers to see what work our writers and illustrators have done during the past year and also for them to meet new writers and illustrators. We will send out specifications for your Personal Details Form after we have received your bookings.
The list of participating publishers will be distributed early in February 2009.
Writers and Illustrators who are unable to attend: You can send a number of copies (the exact number to be made known as soon as the attending publishers have all confirmed – early February) of a set of three A4 pages consisting of your Personal Details Form (to be supplied) and two pages with examples of your work. We will then distribute these amongst the publishers participating at the event (the cost: R70).
Kindly send an e-mail (subject line: Publishers Day 2009 – Work for Distribution) to scbwi.za@gmail.com stating that you cannot attend the event but that you would like your work to be distributed physically to each of the attending publishers. This should reach us by no later than 28th February 2009. Upon receipt of your e-mailed booking we will send you a return e-mail with a blank Personal Details Form, payment details and the address to which you can mail or courier an envelope containing all the sets of copies of your forms and examples of your work to be distributed.
Notes for Writers and Illustrators:
- The representatives from the publishers will be available for meetings from 09h00 to 17h30 on the day.
- Each illustrator or writer will be scheduled into 15-minute slots to see one publisher at a time. As soon as the publishers have confirmed their attendance (end January) we will be able to let you know how many publishers you will be able to see during the day.
- You must bring along a number of copies (the exact number to be made known as soon as the attending publishers have all confirmed – early January) of a set of three A4 pages consisting of your Personal Details Form (to be supplied) and two pages with examples of your work. You will hand one set to each publisher you meet with and a set will be given to each publisher you were unable to see due to the limited number of slots.
- As soon as the list of participating publishers is circulated, you must send us a list of your preferences as to which specific publishers you would like to meet. Number your list of publishers from 1 to 10 in order of preference. We will then draw up a schedule on a first-come-first-served basis, filling up each publisher’s slots. We will e-mail you the completed schedule (grid) one week before the event.
Tips for Writers and Illustrators about pitching your work:
- Make sure that the two pages with examples of your work have your name on and use a paper clip to keep the 3 pages together (DO NOT STAPLE & DON’T USE FANCY FOLDERS – this makes it difficult for the publishers to file you material). You can use both sides of the three sheets of paper – this way you will have 6 sides – but not more than three A4 sheets in total.
- Make sure you use paper of a good quality. Images or type should not shine through.
- Prepare yourself to do your whole pitch in less than 15 minutes. So make a list of information that you need/want to communicate to the publishers – do not waste precious time being chatty.
- When showing and discussing your presentation, allow the publisher to give your work quality time and attention, rather than having to rush through a mass of work that cannot be appreciated in your allocated 15 minutes.
- If you are pitching your work on a laptop computer make sure that you are comfortable doing it this way. Prepare a special, easily accessible folder with ONLY the work you want to show… It leaves a bad impression if you start searching for your files – and you lose valuable time.
- Writers - Prepare a synopsis of your story(ies) with an extract of your manuscript to leave with the publishers. Rather try and get their permission to mail your complete manuscript to them or somebody else at their company. Remember, the person you see will be receiving a lot of material on that day. By mailing your manuscript(s) later (on paper or CD – ask them what they prefer) you will separate your work from the pile. When mailing your manuscript remember to inform the publisher in your covering letter whether you are sending your manuscript to any other publishers.
- Illustrators - Prepare your portfolio of original illustrations (the one you will show to all the publishers and then take home with you) in such a way that it can be handled easily: preferably in an A3 or A4 folder that can be paged through. Rather select only a few of your best works than lots of examples with poor quality work amongst them. If your portfolio consists mostly of reproductions of your work (i.e. in published form) bring at least two original illustrations along as well. If you want to show copies of work that is currently at a publisher, make sure that those copies are of very high quality. Do not take too many examples of illustrations (10 is a good number).
- IMPORTANT: This is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself and to present your work to the publishers. You must not expect any feedback, comments or analysis of your work at this session – it will be the publishers’ sole decision whether they would like to make any further contact with any of the writers and illustrators they had seen at the day’s sessions.
Show & Tell Day Schedule for each Publisher
- 09h00 – 09h30 - Registration
- 09h30 – 09h45 – Slot 1
- 09h45 – 10h00 – Slot 2
- 10h00 – 10h15 - Slot 3
- 10h15 – 10h30 - BODY BREAK
- 10h30 – 10h45 – Slot 4
- 10h45 – 11h00 – Slot 5
- 11h00 – 11h15 – Slot 6
- 11h15 – 11h45 - COFFEE/TEA BREAK
- 11h45 – 12h00 – Slot 7
- 12h00 – 12h15 – Slot 8
- 12h15 – 12h30 – Slot 9
- 12h30 – 12h45 – Slot 10
- 12h45 – 13h00 – Slot 11
- 13h00 – 14h00 – LUNCH BREAK
- 14h00 – 14h15 – Slot 12
- 14h15 – 14h30 – Slot 13
- 14h30 – 14h45 – Slot 14
- 14h45 – 15h00 – Slot 15
- 15h00 – 15h15 - COFFEE/TEA BREAK
- 15h15 - 15h30 – Slot 16
- 15h30 – 15h45 – Slot 17
- 15h45 – 16h00 – Slot 18
- 16h15 – 16h30 – Slot 19
- 16h30 – 16h45 – BODY BREAK
- 16h45 – 17h00 – Slot 20
- 17h00 – 17h15 – Slot 21
- 17h15 – 17h30 – Contingency slot
END
